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Capacitor log Mundorf Silver in Oil

I wished I could find a log with information on caps. I have found many saying tremendous improvement etc. but not a detailed account of what the changes have been. I have had the same speakers for many years so am very familiar with them. (25+ years) The speakers are a set of Klipsch Lascala's. They have Alnico magnets in the mids and ceramic woofers and tweeters. The front end is Linn LP12 and Linn pre amp and amp. The speaker wire is 12 gauge and new wire.

I LOVE these speakers around 1 year ago they started to sound like garbage. As many have said they are VERY sensitive to the components before them. They are also showing what I think is the effect of worn out caps.

There are many out here on these boards I know of that are using the Klipsch (heritage) with cheaper Japanese electronics because the speakers are cheap! (for what they can do) One thing I would recommend is give these speakers the best quality musical sources you can afford. There is a LOT to get out of these speakers. My other speakers are Linn speakers at around 4k new with Linn tri-wire (I think about 1k for that) and the Klipsch DESTROY them in my mind. If you like "live feel" there is nothing like them. In fact it shocks me how little speakers have improved in 30 years (or 60 years in the Khorns instance)

In fact I question Linn's theory (that they have proved many times) that the source is the most important in the Hi-Fi chain. Linn's theory is top notch source with lessor rest of gear including speakers trumps expensive speakers with lessor source. I think is right if all things are equal but Klipsch heritage are NOT equal! They make a sound and feel that most either LOVE or hate. (I am in the LOVE camp and other speakers are boring to me)

So here goes and I hope this helps guys looking at caps in the future. Keep in mind Klipsch (heritage Khorns Belle's and Lascala's especially) are likely to show the effects of crossover changes more then most.

1 The caps are 30 years old and
2 the speakers being horn driven make changes 10x times more apparent.

Someone once told me find speakers and components you like THEN start to tweak if needed. Don't tweak something you not in love with. Makes sense to me.

So sound
Record is Let it Be (Beatles)
The voices are hard almost sounds like a worn out stylus.
Treble is very hard. I Me Mine has hard sounding guitars. Symbals sound awful. Everything has a digital vs. analog comparison x50! Paul's voice not as bad as John's and George's. Voices will crack.

different lp
Trumpets sound awful. Tambourine terrible. Bass is not great seems shy (compared to normal) but the bad caps draw soooooo much attention to the broken up mid range and hard highs that are not bright if anything it seems the highs are not working up to snuff. I have went many times to speaker to make sure tweeters are even working.

All in all they sound like crap except these Klipsch have such fantastic dynamics that even when not right they are exciting!

Makes me wonder about the people who do not like them if they are hearing worn out caps and cheap electronics? Then I can see why they do not like them! If I did not know better from 25+ years of ownership that would make sense.

For the new crossover I have chosen Mundorf Silver in Oil from what I have read and can afford. I want a warm not overly detailed sound as Klipsch already has lots of detail and does not need to be "livened up" they need lush smooth sounding caps. Hope I have made the right choice?

When the crossover is in I will do a initial impression on same lp's. Right now it goes from really bad (on what may be worn vinyl) to not as bad but NOT great on great vinyl. (I know the quality of the vinyl because tested on other speakers Linn)

The new caps are Mundorf Silver in Oil and new copper foil inductors are coming. I will at the same time be rewiring the speakers to 12 guage from the lamp cord that PWK put in. PWK was a master at getting very good sound often with crap by today's standards components.

The choice of speakers would be a toss up now depending on what I am listening to. Klipsch vastly more dynamic but if the breaking up of the sound becomes to much to effect enjoyment the Linn would be a better choice on that Lp. If I could I would switch a button back and forth between speakers depending on song and how bad the break-up sound was bothering me.

volleyguy
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Sherod

Either cap is great. I think the VSF are a good deal in audio. You get a plastic free super natural sounding cap at yes somewhat more than other caps like twice Mundorf Silver in Oil. But to me worth it. If it is any consolation I marvel at the sound of them and have long since forgot what I spent. (and I do not throw money away easy) Have you ever thought about trying just one cap like the tweeter cap to see if it is worth to you.

I started with one cap thinking the worst thing is I was throwing away $150 or so. I know if someone said to me you are going to have $2k (in just caps) in the crossover I would not have done it. (I know I would not have done it) When you start small you can get a better mental handle on whether it is worth it.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Volleyguy,
The President of Reference 3a has already told me that the Mundorf Supreme Silver/gold oil is superior to the aluminum/paper in oil type in there now. The two Duelunds are better yet still. I have already committed to the Duelund VSF for both speakers and am hoping for great things. I'll have them in about a week so soon I'll report on the sound with them in.
hifisoundguy
630 posts
 
Undertow, sorry about that but my Girlfriend posted that last thread on the Quicksilver gold tweak. This is how I did this tweak, the new crossover parts were already solded to the crossover board and I let them break-in for about 3 months before I did this tweak to them. Next I cleaned the lead wires coming out out of the crossover caps and resistors with Caigs contact cleaner. I also cleaned the clip on connectors of my hook-up wires from my crossover board to my speaker drivers. I did not replace my inductors but I did chip off some of the coating of the inductors and clean it with Caigs too and then waited about 2 hours before I put the Quicksilver gold on. Next I put some Quicksilver gold on all the places I cleaned. Then I let it break-in really good for about 28 days and it seem to still improve for another 30 days or so after that. If anyone waits to get a big improvement out of their speakers this is the way to get it!
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
My one amp that is slow as ever getting back, my tech guy says he needs a 40uf, 40uf, 10uf 10uf all 450 volt caps in a can. Any advice on brand or where?

Thanks
ait
480 posts
 
Tell him to use 4 separate new caps instead of the multi-section can if he can't find one. He can mount them under the chassis or in the old can if they fit (he'll need to clean out the old guts from the can for the latter). If they are mounted underneath, he can leave the old can in place for looks.

Antique Electronics Supply has some new multi-section can caps; look there maybe you'll get lucky. If not, do the above.
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